Chaplain

Veterans Health Administration • Battle Creek, MI

12d • Onsite

About The Position

The Battle Creek VA Medical Center is recruiting a Chaplain in the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Veterans Health Administration. The position is part of Chaplain Service and provides spiritual care and support to Veteran patients, their families, and staff as part of an interdisciplinary healthcare team. The Chaplain provides religious ministry according to individuals’ needs and preferences, serves as a spiritual resource and counselor, conducts services and pastoral ministry, and supports patients and families through illness, crisis, and advance care planning. The role works under the direct supervision and guidance of a higher-grade chaplain for complex, non-routine issues. The full performance level is GS-11; selection may be at GS-9 through GS-11.

The work schedule is Sunday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Telework is available on an ad hoc basis only; this is not a virtual position. Relocation and recruitment incentives, as well as permanent change of station, are not authorized.

Applicants must meet the VA chaplain education, endorsement, and board-certification requirements. A Master of Divinity or equivalent graduate-level theological degree from an appropriately accredited institution is required, along with a current ecclesiastical endorsement and board certification by BCCI or a U.S. certifying body with a reciprocity agreement. The GS-09 grade has no experience requirement beyond the basic requirements; GS-11 requires one year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade. Preferred experience includes long-term care, hospice, and palliative care.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship; non-citizens may be appointed only when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Master of Divinity degree or equivalent graduate-level theological degree from a college, university, or theological school accredited by a CHEA member or ATS and recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
• A full and active ecclesiastical endorsement from the official national endorsing authority of the applicant’s faith group or denomination; endorsement must be dated within the past 12 months and maintained during employment.
• Board certification as a chaplain by BCCI or a U.S. certifying body with a reciprocity agreement with BCCI; certification requiring four units of CPE qualifies.
• GS-09: no experience beyond the basic requirements; must demonstrate the specified knowledge, skills, and abilities in spiritual assessment, care planning, crisis intervention, healthcare collaboration, religious freedom, interventions and referrals, service coordination, and communication.
• GS-11: one year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade; must demonstrate the specified knowledge, skills, and abilities in advance care planning, values and end-of-life counseling, pastoral program development, counseling on medical and ethical concerns, staff resiliency, staff education, and community coordination.
• Register for Selective Service if male and born after December 31, 1959.
• Complete a background/security investigation and pre-employment physical examination; participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Complete the online onboarding process and provide acceptable identification for pre-employment requirements.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to the agency’s evaluation and written certification of continued employment.
• Foreign education must be evaluated by a current NACES affiliate and deemed equivalent to a conventional U.S. program; a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency and transcript are required when applicable.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in long-term care, hospice, and palliative care.

Responsibilities

• Provide religious ministry to Veteran patients in accordance with their specific needs and desires.
• Serve as a primary spiritual resource, advisor, and point of contact for patients, caregivers, and staff.
• Conduct religious services, worship, pastoral ministry, and administration of Chaplain services under the guidance of a higher-grade chaplain.
• Provide compassionate listening, counseling, emotional support, crisis intervention, and stabilization.
• Offer prayers and religious services for Veterans, staff, and the community; lead group rituals and prayers.
• Address religious, spiritual, moral, and ethical concerns, referring complex non-routine issues for higher-grade chaplain supervision.
• Provide counseling to patients and staff and conduct regular rounds in hospital wards, including areas containing critically ill patients.
• Minister to newly admitted, pre- and post-operative, and critically ill patients, and support their families.
• Provide advance care planning education, information, and counsel to patients and families.
• Conduct spiritual assessments, document services, and use assessment information to develop pastoral care plans.
• Collaborate with healthcare teams to create and update treatment plans addressing spiritual distress, grief, loss, and other existential concerns.
• Protect patients’ and staff members’ free exercise of religion and guard Veterans against proselytization and coercion.
• Use individual and group interventions to address spiritual and emotional needs, and coordinate referrals and religious services that respect patients’ faith traditions.
• Guide patients in expressing values through life review, oral history, and end-of-life preparation and documentation.
• Develop measurable, outcome-driven, evidence-based pastoral care programs within department guidelines.
• Counsel on medical and ethical issues, terminal diagnoses, crises, moral injury, conscience concerns, family or marital difficulties, and justice or confinement matters.
• Support staff resiliency and develop staff development and wellness programs through spiritual and emotional support.
• Educate healthcare staff and trainees about screening for spiritual and religious needs and referring complex spiritual distress to chaplains.
• Coordinate with community organizations and resources to meet patients’ religious needs when chaplain staff cannot do so.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package for employees and their families; eligibility depends on position type and other factors.
• Prior federal or military service may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, subject to request and approval before appointment.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level